Stodden, Donna Lou 1930-2009

STODDEN, KREKOW, HARNACK

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/22/2009 at 13:01:20

From: Mauer Johnson Earnest Funeral Home Website, June 22, 2009

Donna Lou Stodden, 79, of Marcus, Iowa passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus, Iowa. Rev. Don Meyer and Vicar Mark Chepulis will officiate. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will be present from 6-8 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:30 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Wednesday.

Donna Lou Stodden was born on April 16, 1930 at Le Mars, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Alma (Krekow) Harnack. She was baptized on May 11, 1930 and confirmed on April 18, 1943 at Christ Lutheran Church in Remsen, Iowa. Donna attended country school near her home and later graduated from Le Mars High School in 1947. She continued her education at the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls. Donna received her teaching certificate in 1949. She taught Kindergarten and first grade at Kingsley and Calumet, Iowa.

On June 24, 1950 Donna Lou and Carl Francis Stodden were united in marriage in the campus chapel at the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls. They made their home in Kingsley, Iowa. Donna and Carl then moved to a farm near Remsen, Iowa, to Winterset, Iowa and Humboldt, Iowa before settling on the family farm near Marcus in 1960. Carl passed away suddenly on April 14, 1972. Donna remained on the farm until moving to Marcus in December of 1979. She moved to the Heartland Care Center in February of this year.

Donna was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus. She was a member of Ladies’ Aid and taught Sunday School. Donna also taught Vacation Bible School at Trinity Lutheran Church and at Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus. She was a charter member of the quilters at Trinity Lutheran, formed in 1976. She enjoyed crafting, canning, and submitting entries to the Marcus Fair.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children Diane and Ken Hansen of Smithfield, MO, Dennis and Joan Stodden of Cherokee, IA, Gary Stodden and Christine Deigman of Davenport, IA, David and Sally Stodden of Marcus, IA, Steven and Beverly Stodden of Marcus, Iowa, and Carla Stodden of Marcus, IA; ten grandchildren Elizabeth Hansen, Heather and Ben Gates, Leslie Stodden, Diane Deigman, Martha Stodden, Karl Stodden, Timothy Stodden, Barbara Stodden, Adam Stodden, Donald and Elissa Stodden; five great-grandchildren Liam Gates, Brandon Stodden, Blacey Stodden, Brenin Stodden, Benjamin Stodden; a brother Ronald and Mary Harnack Sr. of Remsen, IA; and a sister Sharon and Dean Harvey of Marcus, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl; and a granddaughter Stephanie Stodden in 1983.